High load release device

ABSTRACT

The restraining strap has a rectangular cross section with a broad side against cylindrical sections holding a release member. The moment of inertia for a rectangular cross section strap is represented by the formula I=BH3/12. The lower moment of inertia reduces the load on the fusible link. With no limit to the number of wraps around the cylindrical sections, higher preloads can be accommodated by increasing the number of wraps of the restraining strap without affecting the moment of inertia or the amount of force borne by the fusible link. The actuator has a catch extending between the restrainer and actuator. The catch ends engage the restrainer and actuator and, upon release from the actuator, the catch rotates to allow the restrainer to unwind from about the cylindrical sections.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF APPLICABLE)

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/193451 filed on Aug. 1, 2005, which is a nonprovisionalapplication of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/592,395, filedon Aug. 2, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Previous release devices include cylindrical sections retained togetherby a restraining wire wrapped about the sections to form a cylinder. Theinterior of the cylinder is formed with a conical recess. The recessrestrains a spherical or conical rod end. Attached to and depending fromthis spherical rod end is a shaft. The force applied to the releasemember is borne by the cylindrical sections. The terminal end of thewire is connected to a fusible link. Upon the application of anelectrical current, the fusible link heats and breaks. With release ofthe fusible link, the restraining wire unravels about the cylinderallowing the cylindrical sections to separate. Separation of thecylindrical sections allows movement of the release member.

One embodiment of a release device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,525,920 (Rudoy et al.). Cylindrical sections 16, 18 are surrounded byretaining wire 28 wound multiple times about the cylindrical sections tokeep them in close contact. Release pin 76 having a spherical headportion 86 and depending shaft portion 84 is retained within the recess70 formed by the two cylindrical sections. When fusible links 42 a, 42b, attached to a power supply or decoupling device 50 fail, therestraining wire unravels allowing the two cylindrical sections toseparate and release the release pin 76, as seen in FIG. 2.

A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,748, havingcylindrical sections 52, 54, retained together by restraining wire 55. Aplunger shaft 48 bears against cone shaped opening 56 formed by thecylindrical section. Upon failure of a fusible link, the restrainingwire no longer keeps cylindrical sections together, allowing the plungershaft 48 to extend between the cylindrical sections under the action ofspring 76 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It is an object of the invention to provide a restraining device havingcylindrical sections retaining a release device against movement underhigh loads.

It is another object of the invention to provide a release mechanismhaving two cylindrical sections kept together by a restraining strap.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a restrainerconnected to an actuator by a catch.

It is still another object of the invention to use a restrainer having abroad side bearing against cylindrical sections to retain the sectionstogether.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art after reading the disclosure of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Previous embodiments of release devices having cylindrical sectionsutilize retaining wire to retain the sections together but separatingupon release of a fusible link. The restraining wire wrapped multipletimes around the cylindrical sections has a circular cross section.Multiple windings dissipate the radial outward force of the cylindricalsections resulting in the principal force bearing against the fusiblelink to be the force at the end of the retaining wire. The preload ofthe restrained rod end determines the diameter of the restraining wirenecessary to withstand the force applied against the cylindricalsections. With increasing preloads, the diameter of the restraining wireincreases. The moment of inertia of a wire having a cylindrical crosssection increases with the diameter of the wire and is represented bythe formula 1=04/64. Also with increasing preloads, the load borne bythe fuse wire increases.

In an effort to reduce the load of the fuse wire resulting from everincreasing preload requirements, a restraining strap or belt replacesthe restraining wire. The restraining strap has a rectangular crosssection with a broad side against the cylindrical sections. The momentof inertia for a rectangular cross section strap is represented by theformula I=BH3/12. The lower moment of inertia reduces the load on thefusible link. With no limit to the number of wraps around thecylindrical sections, higher preloads can be accommodated by increasingthe number of wraps of the restraining strap without affecting themoment of inertia or the amount of force borne by the fusible link.

The actuator has a catch extending between the restrainer and actuator.The catch ends engage the restrainer and actuator and, upon release fromthe actuator, the catch rotates to allow the restrainer to unwind fromabout the cylindrical sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the release device ln therestraining position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restraining device in the releaseposition;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment having a threepart cylinder in the restraining position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the three part cylinder in therelease position;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the release device having an alternativerelease mechanism in the restraining position;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the release device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is the device of FIG. 5 in the released position; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the released position shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The release device 10 has a base 14 covered by a housing 12. On the basetwo cylindrical sections 16, 18 are held in close relation by arestrainer, such as restraining strap 26. The restraining strap is madeof resilient material, such as steel, and resembles a clock spring. Thebroad side of the strap bears against the cylindrical sections tomaintain them in contact. A first end of the strap is connected to oneof the cylindrical sections with the other end of the half ending in alanyard 28. The lanyard 28 connects to an actuator. The actuatorincludes a fusible link The ends of the fusible link are connected toterminals on the terminal block 32. The terminal block 32 provideselectrical current to heat the fusible link. Upon heating, the fusiblelink releases from the terminal block, allowing the restraining strap tounravel about the cylindrical sections.

Posts 22 are permanently connected and extend upwardly from the base 14.The posts sit within grooves formed on the inner surface of thecylindrical sections interior. The posts prevent rotation of thecylindrical sections 16, 18 as the restrainer is wound about thecylindrical sections, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,920, hereinincorporated by reference.

When the sections are held together, a recess formed in the cylinderretains a head 32 of a release member. A load is applied to the releasemember and is released with the unraveling of the restraining strap 26,as will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the release device after release ofthe fusible link. The restraining strap 26 has unraveled and assumed alarger diameter, allowing the cylindrical sections to move away fromeach other under the force applied by the release member. The releasemember is able to move downwardly through the base. In the view, theshaft 34 of the release member is seen as it exits through the bottom ofthe base 14. The conical, hemispherical or hemispherical recess 36 canalso be seen when the sections are separated.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the release device with thesame reference numerals used to designate identical structure. In thisinstance, the base 14 supports three posts 122. Three posts are neededas the cylinder is split into three sections 116, 118, 120. The postsserve the same function in preventing rotation of the cylinder withwinding of the restraining strap 26. The release device has a flangefitting within the groove. The release device is put into the properposition and the cylindrical sections are then brought into place andmaintained in position by restrainer, such as a restraining strap.

FIG. 4 shows the release device after release of the fusible link andrelease of the restraining strap. The cylindrical sections 116, 118, 120move radially outwardly away from one another allowing release of arelease member. The release member is held within the cylinder by theinner surface of the cylinder and outer surface of the release memberhaving mating connecting surfaces. In one embodiment, the inner surfaceof the cylinder and outer surface of the release member having matingthreaded surfaces. After the cylinder is wrapped with the restrainingstrap, the release member can be screwed in place. Alternatively, therelease member may have one or more flanges that mate withcircumferential grooves in the inner surface of the cylinder. In thisinstance, the release member is put into position and the cylindricalsections brought together about the release member to hold the flangewithin the groove.

An alternative actuator for the release device is seen in FIG. 5. Thebase 114 accommodates the cylindrical section 16, 18 and the head 32 ofthe released member. A restrainer 26, such as a restraining strap orrestraining wire, surrounds the cylindrical section. The actuatorincludes a vertically oriented terminal block 132 with a rod 137extending across a gap in the terminal block. The rod is held by a pairof fusible links 138. The use of a pair of fusible links adds aredundant feature to the device as only one has to break to release therod 137. A catch 128 has hooked ends 142, 144. The first hooked end 142engages an aperture in the end of restraining strap 26. The secondhooked end 144 engages the rod 137. The catch 128 has central rod 136extending vertically therefrom. In this arrangement, the restrainingstrap 26 is held in position and is seen in the top view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows the released condition of the release device seen in FIG.5. In this condition, the fusible link 138 has released the rod 137 fromterminal block 132. The resilience of the restraining strap 26 causes itto unwind and, in so doing, causes clockwise rotation of the catch 128.With the rotation of the catch 128, the hook end 142 becomes disengagedfrom the aperture in the restraining strap 26 allowing the continuingunraveling of the restraining strap 26 from about the cylindricalsection 16, 18. The release member 34 is then no longer restrained. Thereleased condition is seen in the top view of FIG. 8.

While the invention has been disclosed with reference to preferredembodiments, variations and modifications would be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art. The invention encompasses such variations andmodifications.

1. A release device comprising: a base; cylindrical sections on thebase; a release member retained by the cylindrical sections; arestraining strap encircling the cylindrical sections, the restrainingstrap having two ends; and an actuator, a first end of the restrainingstrap releasably connected to the actuator, wherein the actuatorcomprises a terminal block, a fusible link attached to the terminalblock, a catch member extending between the fusible link and the firstend of the restraining strap, the catch member rotating to release therestraining strap.
 2. The release device of claim 1 wherein the catchmember has two hooked ends.
 3. The release device of claim 2 wherein therestraining strap has a rectangular cross section.
 4. A release devicecomprising; a base; cylindrical sections on the base; a release memberretained by the cylindrical sections; a restrainer encircling thecylindrical sections, the restraining strap having two ends; an actuatorcomprising a terminal block, a fusible link attached to the terminalblock, a catch member extending between the fusible link and the firstend of the restraining strap the catch member rotating to release therestraining strap, the catch member has two hooked ends.
 5. The releasedevice of claim 3 wherein the restrainer is a straining strap.
 6. Therelease device of claim 4 wherein there are two cylindrical sections. 7.A release device comprising: a base; cylindrical sections on the base; arelease member retained by the cylindrical sections; a restraining strapencircling the cylindrical sections, the restraining strap having twoends, wherein a first portion of the straining strap overlaps a secondportion of the restraining strap in a radial direction; and an actuator,a first end of the restraining strap releasably connected to theactuator, wherein the actuator comprises a terminal block, a fusiblelink attached to the terminal block, a catch member extending betweenthe fusible link and the first end of the restraining strap, the catchmember rotating to release the restraining strap.
 8. The release deviceof claim 1 wherein the catch member has two hooked ends.
 9. The releasedevice of claim 8 wherein a rod is coupled between the terminal blockand the fusible link.
 10. The release device of claim 9 wherein one ofthe two hooked ends engages the rod and the other of the two hooked endsengages an aperture on an end of the restraining strap.
 11. The releasedevice of claim 10 wherein catch member is configured to rotate from afirst position where the two hooked ends engage the rod and the apertureto a second position where the two hooked ends are disengaged from therod and the aperture.
 12. The release device of claim 11 wherein the rodextends across a gap in the terminal block.
 13. The release device ofclaim 12 wherein the strap contiguously encircles the cylindricalsections by more than 360 degrees.
 14. The release device of claim 13wherein the cylindrical sections includes at least a first cylindricalsection and an opposing second cylindrical section, the firstcylindrical section and second cylindrical section being configured inoperation to separate in response to the release of the restrainingstrap.
 15. The release device of claim 14 wherein the restraining strapmoves from a first position to a second position in when released. 16.The release device of claim 14 further comprising a first post operablycoupled to prevent rotation of the first cylindrical section and asecond post operably coupled to prevent rotation of the secondcylindrical section.
 17. The release member of claim 16 wherein thefirst cylinder section and the second cylindrical section define arecess, the recess sized to receive a head portion of a release member.18. The release member of claim 17 wherein the recess is a conical,hemispherical or hemispherical recess.
 19. The release member of claim 7wherein the wherein the restraining strap has a rectangular crosssection.
 20. The release member of claim 7 wherein the straining strapis a restraining wire.